By David Gibb

When we consider the all-time greats in any sport and try to identify the greatest “winners,” there is one trait common among all of the truly elite: desire. The sole reason Joe Calzaghe defeated 6oy Jones Jr. by unanimous decision last Saturday was desire. Despite the fight’s general less-than-thrilling tone (one person with whom I watched the fight went so far as to suggest that the fight looked fixed), the entirety of bout made one loud, clear point: Joe Calzaghe wanted to win more than Roy Jones.

Calzaghe certainly lacks the punching power of most American fighters his weight, but the Welsh Warrior hit the greatest fighter of the 90s more times than anybody ever had. It can be argued that Calzaghe is the “weakest” fighter ever to face Junior, but he went in looking to score against the all-time great and succeed in forcing Jones out of rhythm, despite a first-round knockdown.

The fight was absolutely Jones’ to win. Despite being over the hill, he is one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters of all time and faced a fighter who had never particularly impressed anybody on this side of the Atlantic, despite his win over Bernard Hopkins. Jones Junior lost himself the fight through complacency, however.

The former Heavyweight Champion of the World knocked down Calzaghe in the first, making him look like what his worst critics claim him to be: stereotypical English boxer with a strong chin, no power, and no common sense. A full round later, nobody would have ever guessed that either man had once dominated. Two rounds later, nobody would have ever guessed that Jones had touched Calzaghe. It was all because Joe Calzaghe had the desire to win the fight, while Roy Jones Junior looked content to rest on his early-round (and arguably career) laurels.

If Joe Calzaghe does decide to retire undefeated, he will be able to point to this fight as the moment he proved to the world that he had the desire to be a true main event title fighter.